NCJ Number
62758
Journal
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1973) Pages: 253-266
Date Published
1973
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS WHICH EMERGED IN RESPONSE TO WORLD ELECTRICITY REQUIREMENTS ARE SHOWN TO HAVE CREATED DILEMMAS OF WASTE DISPOSAL AND ILLICIT USE OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS.
Abstract
THE NUCLEAR STRATEGY FOR CURING THE WORLD'S SHORTAGE OF ELECTRIC POWER CREATES THE LONG-RANGE PROBLEMS OF THERMAL POLLUTION AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE, BUT ALSO INVOLVES THE IMMEDIATE POSSIBILITY OF NUCLEAR CATASTROPHE. IN THE 'BOOTLEG BOMB SCENARIO,' CRIMINALS OR TERRORISTS COULD DIVERT WEAPONS-GRADE NUCLEAR FUEL FROM THE ATOMIC INDUSTRY AND CONSTRUCT WEAPONS. CONSIDERABLE CONFUSION EXISTS AMONG EXPERTS IN THE INDUSTRIAL AND SECURITY FIELDS OVER THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL SECURITY EXPENDITURES TO PROTECT NUCLEAR MATERIALS. RESEARCHERS IN THE AREA OF HUMAN JUDGMENT AND ORGANIZATION DEVELOPED A SURVEY INSTRUMENT FOR DETERMINING SAFEGUARDS JUDGMENT POLICIES. USE OF THE INTERVIEW SYSTEM WITH 400 PERSONS FROM THE SAFEGUARD PROFESSION, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND NUCLEAR INDUSTRY PRODUCED RESPONSES ON THE PREFERRED SAFEGUARDS, OPINIONS OF SECURITY BEING USED, AND DESIRED DEGREES OF STRINGENCY FOR A SAFEGUARDS SYSTEM. ANALYSES OF THE DATA REVEAL THAT THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY PREFERS A SAFEGUARDS SYSTEM THAT IS LESS STRINGENT THAN THAT PREFERRED BY THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION. THE MOST IMPORTANT DETERMINANT OF THE INDUSTRY'S SYSTEMS CHOICE IS THEIR CONCERN THAT THE PRESENCE OF GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL DISRUPTS BUSINESS PROCEDURE. THE GOVERNMENT'S DESIRE FOR STRINGENT SYSTEM SEEMS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BUREAUCRACY. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH SHOULD CONSIDER DEVELOPING SIMULATIONS WHICH COULD YIELD SOLUTIONS TO SECURITY PROBLEMS. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)